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This month I've explored the turbulent past of Cambodia here on Coil. The atrocities that have occurred in the unstable times of the civil war, and under the control of the Khmer Rouge regime, should never be forgotten. My own thoughts about the lack of international interference in this revolting humanitarian crises became pretty much unsettling when I learned about the role of the United States, and how their impotent behavior consequential gave rise to more terror and suffering within the borders of Cambodia.

The ideological driven Khmer Rouge neglected all of human dignity, and pursued the horrific road of mass cleansing. Without any restrictions on the omnipotent dictatorship; executed by souls that lacked all of what makes one human.

Could all of this have been prevented? What if the United States actually helped the Cambodian people, instead of bombing them? Was the clash between Capitalism and Communism worth the suffering? Sadly, these are questions that will never be answered. What we can do, is to choose to learn from past mistakes, and remember the evil as to emphasize the need for scrutiny whenever early symptoms emerge.

Cambodia Chronicles Part One (Subscriber Exclusive)

In this article I re-imagined my own experiences of when I crossed the Thai/Cambodian border a few years ago. The change of atmosphere upon crossing the border was staggering.. Is it fair to say that Cambodia is still haunted by its horrific past?

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Cambodia Chronicles Part Two (Subscriber Exclusive)

In this second article of the Cambodia Chronicles series I explored the rise of the Khmer Rouge, and what signified their ideology. How could it be that such a futile political party triumphed?

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Cambodia Chronicles Part Three (Wordless Wednesday)

In line with the Wordless Wednesday tradition on Coil, I've published a recollection of pictures that highlights the tone during the Khmer Rouge reign in Cambodia. Subscribers have access to a photo collection of re-enacted atrocities on the National Day of Remembrance (2019).

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First Meeting With the Khmer Rouge

After the signing of the 1991 Paris Peace Accord, the United Nations was called upon to ''restore peace and civil government'' in Cambodia. Under leadership of the famous UN diplomat, Sergio Vieira de Mello, a small group of UN officials set out to meet with senior Khmer Rouge officials for the very first time. Was the meeting a success?

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